Big brother

An early start with Reuben for a hearing test at UCLA. He's never terribly excited about being in sound proof booths watching toy animals light up with the intention that he'll look over to them when he hears a sound, conditioning, nor that he should be playing Connect 4 and dropping the coins into the slots as it would be much more fun just working out a way of getting them through the holes. That said, his hearing appears to be the same as it's been: moderate to severe deafness, or hearing at 50-80db in each ear.

We arrive at UCLA school where Callum's playing with the water table and comes running over to hug Reuben. Reuben runs to hug his former teachers. I ask teacher Belinda if Reuben can attend circle time. Feels like old times again when I would have juggled each of them on my knees, Callum a newborn, singing our songs. But now, a year on, Reuben has a voice and the confidence to request which of the songs he'd like to sing (firetruck). I'm touched that Belinda would do this, knowing how Reuben knows the routine. I'm looking back when Reuben had just left the program as a student to go to preschool and Callum had joined it as a role model, the sole so called "typical" kid, to aid kids like Reuben who need early intervention due to an array of developmental, medical and sensor challenges. Having left, on one of the occasions Reuben came along with me, was no longer asked to make a choice of song and I knew as circle time was closing what would be entering his mind, just at the moment he signed (that was his sole expressive language then as he had not the use of his vocal chords nor ability for air to go past them due to the trach) "Reuben", a silent question. My heart skipped a little sad beat. Today I thanked Belinda for the kindness in such a simple gesture which would mean the whole world to one of UCLA's littlest alumni? Today Callum selects "I want monkeys jumping on the bed" and everyone smiles.

Callum sings about pirate ships, the two of them do in the back of the car. I'm giving the educational videos a miss for a while and it's thus sparking more opportunities for chatting and singing in the car. We'll all take turns with "Twinkle twinkle" and the boys will remind me whose turn it is next.

With a few iPad apps installed, we're having fun there too and Reuben illustrates his memory skills first hand in finding like objects, Callum his skills with the puzzles. They both seem to know instinctively how to shift the screen around.

Finished tonight off with a run around the park and this, the quickest capture at the base of the climbing structure. I've never seen Reuben hug Callum quite like this before, but I wonder if Reuben is really being so tender, or closing in to Callum for a wrestle. I just wonder...

If you're on FB, check out Cherie's touching shoot of us from Saturday. Can't describe how it feels to have these precious moments captured. So heartwarming... Thank you

Oh! check out last year's Blip... it's Nina when we met in Helsinki whilst we were on the Disney ship.